they were a militant organization in the heart of the civil rights movement. for me, they were a family and a protective vest and shielded us. i lived in panther housing, i went to a panther school. we were told that we were part of something special and we were meant for something powerful. not just for black people, but for all people who were oppressed. as a young child, i felt empowered. i felt important. i felt appreciated. if i were outside of the black panther bubble, everything in america was telling me i was dirty and i was stupid and i was a criminal. in my early formative years, i was shielded from that. i was given the opposite message. tavis: that did not stop you from having run ins. >> once we left the panthers, and i was being raised by my mother alone, my father was in prison, he was also a black panther. my mother left the panthers and it was six children and her. it was a single mother trying to raise us and she did well initially. she became the first female welder in oakland. she would have an injury and she lost the job. she struggled wit